Agenda item

1.         Reinstating Member Representation on the South West Home Safety Partnership

Proposal – That this Council reinstates its Membership representation on the South West Home Safety Partnership.

2.         Promoting and facilitating Sustainable Living in South Somerset

Proposal - That, in relation to South Somerset, at its bimonthly meetings, this Council reviews its proactive role in promoting / facilitating sustainable living.

(Voting: 6 in favour of the Motion, 15 against, 37 abstentions)

3.         Completing the Stop Line Way though South Somerset

Proposal – That with the known economic benefits completing the Stop Line Way through South Somerset is treated as a priority and reviewed bimonthly by Full Council.

4.         Reopening Chard Junction Station

Proposal – In the light of possible changing circumstances at the site, this Council reinvigorates its aim to reopen Chard Junction Station.

(Voting: 5 in favour of the Motion, 36 against, 17 abstentions)

5.         Proposal for a period of free car parking to reinvigorate High Street shopping in South Somerset

Proposal - That this Council investigates a change to the Council Car Parking Policy to enable an initial free period of up to 2 hours of parking to be made available, where parking is currently charged at a timed rate.

(Voting: 52 in favour, 5 against, 1 abstention)

The following motions were submitted by Councillor Andrew Turpin:-

1.         Reinstating Member Representation on the South West Home Safety Partnership

Proposal – That this Council reinstates its Membership representation on the South West Home Safety Partnership.

Councillor Andrew Turpin introduced the Motion, saying the South West Home Safety Partnership was related to the ROSPA Home Safety Committee and its meetings were also attended by the SSDC Environmental Health Manager.  He said the value of the meetings were its outcomes in reducing accidents and injuries.

During discussion, varying views were expressed.  Some Members felt that there was duplication in both officer and Member representation whilst others felt the information provided by Councillor Turpin appeared to make the representation worthwhile.  As the Scrutiny Committee had conducted the review of membership on outside organisations, it was proposed that they be asked to reconsider this representation at their next meeting in line with the policy on outside body representation.  Councillor Turpin confirmed that he was in agreement with this proposal.

2.         Promoting and facilitating Sustainable Living in South Somerset

Proposal - That, in relation to South Somerset, at its bimonthly meetings, this Council reviews its proactive role in promoting / facilitating sustainable living.

Councillor Andrew Turpin introduced the Motion, saying that although SSDC employed a Climate Change officer, everyone should think globally and act locally.  He said that both the Council and Councillors should be promoting sustainable living in its decisions and initiatives where appropriate.

Councillor Henry Hobhouse, as Portfolio Holder for Property and Climate Change, reminded Members that every Executive and Council report included the carbon emissions and climate change implications of taking the decision.  He also noted that Councillor Turpin had been invited to attend the Carbon Reduction Board and any suggestions put forward would be implemented provided their capital costs broke even and drew Members attention to the successful photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of several SSDC buildings which had halved the Council’s electricity spend and the use of electric streetscene vehicles.  He said all Members were welcome to attend the Carbon Reduction Board meetings but he did not feel that a bi-monthly report to Council was necessary. 

During discussion, although Members supported the sentiment of the Motion, it was felt that bi-monthly reports to Council was too frequent.  The Motion that the Council reviewed its proactive role in promoting / facilitating sustainable living at its bimonthly meetings was put to the vote but was defeated (voting: 6 in favour of the Motion, 15 against, 37 abstentions).

(Voting: 6 in favour of the Motion, 15 against, 37 abstentions)

3.         Completing the Stop Line Way though South Somerset

Proposal – That with the known economic benefits completing the Stop Line Way through South Somerset is treated as a priority and reviewed bimonthly by Full Council.

Councillor Andrew Turpin introduced the Motion, saying the cycleway between Chard and Ilminster was well used and completing the section from Chard to the Dorset border would completethe South Somerset section of the Coast to Coast Cycleway from Ilminster south.

During discussion, several Members noted that the project had stalled when funding had been withdrawn by Somerset County Council in 2009 and that there had been issues over the route and land ownership.  The Leader and Deputy Leader noted that the project was scheduled to be discussed at a meeting of the Somerset Growth Board the following day and it was hoped to re-start the project.  The Chairman of Area West Committee said they supported the project and agreed to assist in re-starting the project. 

Councillor Turpin accepted the offer that the completion of the Stop Line Way through South Somerset would be progressed by the Area West Committee and the Somerset Growth Board.

4.         Reopening Chard Junction Station

Proposal – In the light of possible changing circumstances at the site, this Council reinvigorates its aim to reopen Chard Junction Station.

Councillor Andrew Turpin introduced the Motion and advised that he had been part of a working group who had been looking at re-opening Chard Junction station but this had been disrupted by the British Rail Property Board who had sold the site.  He said there was now redundant land for sale at the site which could be used and it was an opportunity for Chard and the surrounding area to re-open the station.  

During discussion, Members felt the costs would be huge and re-opening this station could put either Axminster or Crewkerne stations at risk of closure. Councillor Turpin pointed out Devon County Council had opened the three stations Whimple, Cranbrook and Pinhoe within a five mile section of the line as part of the Devon Metro.  

It was also noted that neither Network Rail or Somerset County Council had expressed any interest in assembling a business case for the project.  Members did feel that the Local Plan Policy TA2 relating to the promotion and development of land for both passenger and freight rail hubs where there was robust evidence of support sufficiently kept the proposal open in case there was any major increase in population in Chard or the surrounding area.  

The original Motion that Council reinvigorate its aim to reopen Chard Junction Station was put to the vote but was defeated (voting: 5 in favour of the Motion, 36 against, 17 abstentions).

(Voting: 5 in favour of the Motion, 36 against, 17 abstentions)

The following Motion was submitted by Councillor Martin Wale:

5.         Proposal for a period of free car parking to reinvigorate High Street shopping in South Somerset

Proposal - That this Council investigates a change to the Council Car Parking Policy to enable an initial free period of up to 2 hours of parking to be made available, where parking is currently charged at a timed rate.  A report with the full cost to the Council, in both loss of income and re-equipment, be brought back to Council at the October meeting. 

Councillor Martin Wale introduced the Motion which he said the purpose was to assist the shops in the high streets across the district and he asked that a group be formed to investigate the proposal as a matter of urgency so that the outcomes could be fed into the 2016/17 budget.  

During discussion, Members were generally supportive of the proposal and it was proposed that a Scrutiny task and finish review be set up to consider the proposal.  The Assistant Director (Economy) suggested that a light touch review was the way forward and at the conclusion of the debate, Councillor Wale accepted the offer of the light touch review provided that it was conducted in time for its outcomes to be included in the 2016/17 budget process.  He also agreed to remove the final sentence of his proposal to report back to Council in October 2015 and with this removed his Motion was put to the vote and carried (voting: 52 in favour, 5 against, 1 abstention).

(Voting: 52 in favour, 5 against, 1 abstention)